Broncbusters’ Forwards Shine in Win over Coffeyville

GARDEN CITY, Kan. – Garden City has been known for their high-flying offense, like their 106-92 win over Coffeyville in January. In a 24-game conference schedule, not all wins will come the same way.

Wednesday night saw the Broncbusters’ big men play big roles in their second consecutive win.

The Garden City Broncbusters secured their fourth season sweep, taking down the Coffeyville Red Ravens, 69-58, at Conestoga Arena. Forwards Thomas Tut, Charles Chukwu, and Isaiah Dixon combined for 30 points in the victory.

“I hope it’s [a sign] of things to come,” Elmore said. “We see it in practice with Zay… He was really good tonight, hopefully we can build on it.”

The Broncbusters laid the groundwork from the opening tip.

Garden City (17-10, 13-8 KJCCC) held Coffeyville scoreless for their first three possessions, taking the lead, and never giving it back. The Broncbusters only surrendered nine points in the first nine minutes, including a spell where GCCC forced four straight turnovers.

Tut had a key impact early, throwing down a poster over Red Ravens’ guard Jahni Summers to ignite the Conestoga Arena crowd. Tut would set up freshman Jordan Frazier for a three-pointer soon after, giving his team a 10-point lead.

The sophomore finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the victory.

Coffeyville (10-16, 6-14 KJCCC) worked back into the game to close the first half, but never within fewer than two possessions. Guard Brian Griffith made it rain early, splashing four three-pointers to cut the Garden City lead to just five at the half.

One freshman was called on heavily by Elmore in the second half. Chukwu took a costly fourth foul with 14:24 left, the Red Ravens inching back into the ball game. Coffeyville would cut the lead down to six, but Isaiah Dixon stepped up to make key plays down the stretch.

Dixon recorded an early steal after rejoining the action, leading to an Elijah Roberts and-one to put the lead back to eight. Two minutes later, Dixon followed up a Braxton Jones miss with a thunderous slam to boost the lead back to three possessions.

“I was just waiting for my chance to get it,” Dixon recalled. “I was going to lay it up, but I was way too high, so I said, ‘just dunk it.'”

Dixon kickstarted a 12-5 Broncbusters’ run, which helped ice the game from there. The forward tied his career-high of eight points, making all four of his field goals, in the win.

Assistant coach Jaxon Autry alluded to how dangerous Garden City could be on Saturday if they got hot at the right time. Second-year head coach Rusty Elmore mentioned for Garden City to catch fire, they had to guard the ball well in its last four games.

Wednesday night was a great start for his team’s ambitions.

Garden City faces its final road test of the regular season on Saturday, taking on the No. 2 Barton Cougars. Pregame coverage on 99.9 ‘The Rock’ begins immediately following women’s basketball’s 2:00 tipoff.

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